Scripture to read today:
Job 33; 1 Corinthians 1; 1 Corinthians 2; 1 Corinthians 3
Scripture that spoke to me:
1 Corinthians 2:11
No one can know a person’s thoughts except that person’s own spirit, and no one can know God’s thoughts except God’s own Spirit.
Observation:
I’m seeing two different things in this- 1) that we can’t really know another person, in their innermost thoughts, and 2) we can only know God through the Holy Spirit.
Application:
The first thought leads me down the road of gossip. I really like knowing what is going on, but try to stay away from gossip, or at least treat it as a theory and not a fact. Because you truly never know exactly what motivated a person to do something unless they tell you. I don’t know why the Ft. Hood shooter shot all those people- and there sure have been a lot of guesses- but unless he tells us, that is all we have. Likewise, unless we know God, we don’t understand what motivates Him to do the things He does. We can guess, but without the understanding that only His Spirit can provide, we will never truly know.
Prayer:
Lord, help me to remember that we really don’t know people unless they want us to. Likewise, we only know what You have revealed to us. Help us not to take our guesses- our gossip- as fact. Amen.
Scripture to read today:
Daniel 5; Daniel 6; Psalm 130; Luke 3
Scripture that spoke to me:
Daniel 6:16-18
So at last the king gave orders for Daniel to be arrested and thrown into the den of lions. The king said to him, “May your God, whom you serve so faithfully, rescue you.” A stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den. The king sealed the stone with his own royal seal and the seals of his nobles, so that no one could rescue Daniel. Then the king returned to his palace and spent the night fasting. He refused his usual entertainment and couldn’t sleep at all that night.
Observation:
King Darius has been suckered into making a law that sounded good at the time but wasn’t turning out to be as good as he thought. He didn’t intend for his top man to be punished for it.
Application:
I know many times as a mom, I’ve issued a decree that I’ve been forced to have to hold to, even when the outcome wasn’t what I envisioned. I’ve prayed a lot for our leaders lately- we have some heavy issues on the table and I hope they are given the foresight to look at the long term effects of these issues.
Prayer:
Lord, guide our leaders toward making smart judgments and laws. Don’t let the greed, the comraderie of the party, or the pride of the individual stand in the way of making laws that are good not only for the people of our country at this time, but for our country a century or more from now. Amen.
Scripture to read today:
Jeremiah 50; Jeremiah 51; 3 John 1
Scripture that spoke to me:
1 John 3:9-10
I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first, will have nothing to do with us. So if I come, I will call attention to what he is doing, gossiping maliciously about us. Not satisfied with that, he refuses to welcome the brothers. He also stops those who want to do so and puts them out of the church.
Observation:
All should be welcomed in the church. Diotrephes is certainly not the last person who has not been welcoming of others. John calls this evil, and reminds his friend to show hospitality to men so that they may work together for God.
Application:
I have heard countless stories from friends about how they were not welcomed, and in some cases, shunned from the church. I had an experience once with a lady who called the church trying to get her ex thrown out. She ended up mad at me (which was ok) because I wasn’t going to do anything! He was living with a girl he was about to marry- living in sin according to her- and why wasn’t the church letting them come? My reply was that we don’t check sins at the door. Everyone who comes to church sins, and if we only let the righteous in, there wouldn’t be anyone here!
Prayer:
Lord, help us all to realize that everyone has their problems. Church should be a safe haven- where we can come to try to get back on that narrow path, and not a place that judges how far we fell from the path. Help me, help my church, help us all to realize that none of us are better than anyone else, and we’re all saved only through the grace of Jesus. Amen.
Scripture to read today:
Nahum 1-3; John 5
Scripture that spoke to me:
John 5: 30
By myself I can do nothing. I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me.
Observation:
This is Jesus speaking on his own return and the judgment that will come. God has given Jesus the authority to judge because he is the Son of Man, and he will judge righteously.
Application:
How right we would all judge if we were judging to please God and not ourselves! I know I tend to judge people based on earthly standards. In many cases, I cannot see people’s hearts to judge them on a heavenly basis. But that is not my place. It has to be left to the One who CAN see their hearts. I also have to remember that He is judging my heart, too.
Prayer:
Lord forgive me when I rate people by earthly standards. Help me to remember that we are all One in You. Amen.
Scripture to read today:
Isaiah 32-35; James 2
Scripture that spoke to me:
James 2:12-13
Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!
Observation:
If you judge someone, remember that you also will be judged, and would want others to be merciful to you.
Application:
I actually feel better reading this verse. I’ve been raised not to judge others, but that is one of the hardest things to do. It seems like there is always an evaluation to make of people- by their looks, their possessions, or their actions. This verse, to me, says that it is ok to judge them, just be merciful in that judgment. I can’t stop my instinctive reaction to something I observe in another person, but I can temper my reaction to it with mercy.
Prayer:
Lord, let me always remember to be merciful in my assessments of others. Amen.
Scripture to read today:
Proverbs 16; Proverbs 17; Proverbs 18; Romans 12
Scripture that spoke to me:
Romans 12:17-21
Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. On the contrary:
“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Observation:
God gets to take care of those who do wrong- not us. If we do wrong back to someone who has wronged us, then we’re wrong, too. And God will view us just as He does them. This says be kind to those who have wronged you- it will surprise them, humble them, confuse them, maybe even humiliate them some. That’s your revenge.
Application:
Boy, did I need this lesson today! The ex didn’t come to his own son’s graduation- and son is highly upset at him. But we’re learning that lashing out doesn’t help. It only makes us feel worse. Brandon did tell his father how upset he was, that he couldn’t find time to attend this major milestone in his son’s life, but stopped short at saying he’d never speak to him again. We’ve been trying to follow this verse…. but boy, it is HARD to do!
Prayer:
Lord, help us to be more loving and less angry and the people who have wronged us. Amen.
Scripture to read today:
1 Kings 7; 2 Chronicles 4; Psalm 98; Romans 2
Scripture that spoke to me:
Romans 2:1
You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge the other, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things.
Observation:
It is true that the things we hate the most in other people are the things we hate about ourselves. When we judge them for something that we see as wrong (or bad, or at least not ideal) then we should also judge ourselves, for we have the same affliction in us. I think it is what we most closely monitor in ourselves that gets monitored in others, too.
Application:
I see this very clearly- I see a fat person and go ewwww (but I don’t like the fatness in myself!) People who are unorganized drive me crazy! But I am unorganized- actually, I fight to keep myself mostly organized most of the time. I have a friend who likes to say “pot…kettle” anytime I say something to her that also applies to me! Because I work on my weight, I work on organization… so I’m thinking about those things a lot, and they’re usually some of the first things I notice about others, too.
Prayer:
Lord, help me be kinder in judging myself and others- let me look more for the wonderful things and learn to ignore the weaknesses. Amen.
Scripture to read today:
1 Samuel 23; Psalm 31; Psalm 54; Matthew 7
Scripture that spoke to me:
Matthew 7:1-2
“Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
Observation:
Jesus is speaking of the way we use our criticism of others to feel superior. The next few verses speak of not being able to fix the small problems others may have until we deal with our own huge problems. It is easier to overlook the things we need to work on and simply point out where someone else is lacking.
Application:
I think the world has had a good look at judgment this week with the appearance of Susan Boyle on Britain’s Got Talent. I’ll admit to being one of the ones who first saw her and thought “How did she get on this show?” One note out of her mouth, and I had my answer. Wow! What a wonderful gift she has been given! We’re so used to the glamor and beauty of show business that when plain and ordinary come along, our first reaction is to make fun of it. Jesus, however, says that the judgment we have of others will be turned back on us. And I really don’t want someone judging me!
Prayer:
Lord, help me see others by what is in their heart, not what the packaging looks like. Amen.
Scripture to read today:
1 Samuel 20; 1 Samuel 21; Psalm 34; Matthew 5
Scripture that spoke to me:
Matthew 5:44-48
But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Observation:
The Sermon on the Mount is one of the toughest collections of Jesus’ teachings. He says some things that I wish weren’t true. This is maybe the toughest- love your enemies. It is hard to do. That is just Jesus’ point- it is easy to love people you like. Anyone can do that. But we should be a step above and love everyone- enemies included!
Application:
I struggled with this in a particular situation for years. Sam,the choir director at the church I grew up in really didn’t like me- and since I’m such a music person, that hurt. It hurt for years but I overlooked it. Until one day he basically told me that he didn’t need me around. I don’t, to this day, know if he was jealous of me or didn’t like me or exactly what his problem was, but I left the church to go to the church where I am now. And I love my church now- I’m really involved and get to do so much that I love to do. But I still felt animosity toward Sam- 15 years later. My mother still goes to that church and sings in the choir. So I would go to hear special concerts to support her. But I couldn’t enjoy them because of my dislike for this man. I would look for any little thing that sounded wrong and think snide comments. Until I found this verse one day. Love your enemies. Love Sam? Really? Why? But after praying on it for several months, I saw him in a different situation one day. He came up, smiling, really happy to see me, shook my hand, and asked me about my life. When I walked away, I realized that he didn’t remember what happened 15 years ago. Plus, I had held this grudge for so long that the only one it was hurting was ME! I was able, that day, to forgive him. Now I can visit that church and enjoy the music and really mean it when I tell Sam “nice job!”
Prayer:
Lord, let me remember this experience when I find it hard to forgive. Amen.
Scripture to read today:
Judges 13; Judges 14; Judges 15; Judges 16; 2 Corinthians 2
Scripture that spoke to me:
2 Corinthians 2:17
Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, like men sent from God.
Observation:
We have known many men who preached of God for the profit- Jim Bakker being only the first that comes to my mind. But if we are truly speaking from the heart then we will speak of God for His benefit, not our own. We will approach people with kindness and forgiveness, not for gain.
Application:
I also think that we will approach without judgment. I was reading a blog this morning where a young girl has escaped to her friend’s house because her parents hit her, slammed her into the side of a van, and told her that she was associating with horrible people (in their eyes- apparently they found out that the lady she went to drank one beer one time- and cut her hair too short- and isn’t Penecostal….) If they were truly trying to show their daughter the love of Christ, they would show love and understanding, not hate and judgment.
Prayer:
Lord, help me remember to lose the hate and judgment and show people Your love- not my own feelings in the matter. Amen.
